I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the 16 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business this morning. We started with Senator Fitzpatrick, who spoke about the EU report which was issued during the week about the challenges we face in Ireland and across Europe with increasing drug use. It is a concern. Senator Fitzpatrick is absolutely correct in saying that we have to view it as a public health crisis, not just a criminal justice issue. In Ireland alone last year, there were 343 people who passed away from drug poisoning. That is almost one person per day. Of course, there is an impact not just on those who have sadly passed away but also on the lives of the loved ones of those who are using and abusing drugs. Eight out of ten of those deaths showed more than two drugs used. It is very clear there is a cohort of people using a number of different drugs. It is very concerning, particularly when we see young children's lives robbed when they are used to peddle and deliver drugs. It has to be a huge concern for us. There has to be a universal, targeted approach. There has to be a whole-of-community approach. The solution cannot just be with the gardaí or indeed, with the Government. All sectors of society need to work together. Senator Fitzpatrick is right. We need an opportunity to debate this report. I know that the Joint Committee on Drugs Use will be finishing its work quite soon. The report will be laid before both Houses but I will ask, as a priority, that we have a debate in this House about the European report.

Senator McCarthy also spoke about drugs, cannabis and the strong connection with psychosis. It is very concerning. He spoke about all of the different agencies across the board that are talking about this. I visited Cuan Mhuire, which is one such agency, recently with the Minister of State, Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Nicola Kelly and the chair, Paul O'Donoghue. They do incredible work there and we spoke about exactly that issue. This weekend, Cuan Mhuire, which was set up by Sr. Consilio, is celebrating its 60-year anniversary. I congratulate Cuan Mhuire on all the work it is doing and continues to do, the lives that are saved and the lives it will continue to save in the future. Senator McCarthy asked for a mature debate and to look at resources across different Departments.

Senator Duffy will have a very busy weekend in Ballina with two really big celebrations happening this weekend. One is for the Arch Club, which is celebrating its 40-year anniversary. Arch Clubs do incredible work, along with the Special Olympics, and many of the same young people are involved in both. They provide a terrific place for social connection for young people with intellectual disabilities and also provide support and connection for parents. I congratulate the Arch Club in Ballina and also the Moy Singers, who are celebrating their 40-year anniversary on Saturday evening. They were also part of the celebrations to mark 40 years of Knock Airport over the past few weeks, which celebrated Monsignor Horan and his incredible vision, dream and reality at Knock Airport.

Senator Joe Conway, who spoke about the Ireland-Israel match, wants a debate with the Minister for justice on mounting concerns about security challenges. I absolutely understand where the Senator is coming from. There are very many reasons we are all concerned about the possibility of this match happening in Ireland. It is a difficult situation for the FAI and the Irish players. I gather from recent conversations and items we have heard on the news that there is a very strong possibility that this match will be moved from Ireland to a more neutral venue. I certainly ask for and echo the call for clarity. If that will happen, the announcement needs to be made about that so we know what we are dealing with.

Senator Murphy spoke about the second night of rioting in Belfast. It is shocking to witness. It brings back memories of long ago when we saw this type of horrific activity. People are going around to houses and checking who is there. Really, they are checking to see the colour of people's skin. We know that. I saw some anecdotal evidence of people living in Belfast who are not from Ireland, Belfast or Northern Ireland but are providing incredible supports, particularly in the health sector. They have had to flee their homes and try to find safe homes in other places. It is shocking to see. We all need to be very clear and unequivocal in calling this out for what it is. It is blatant racism. The Senator spoke eloquently about what leadership means. He is right in saying that leadership is about honest dialogue, based on respect and tolerance. As a community, we all would have hoped that in Northern Ireland, and particularly in Belfast, they would have learned so much over the last few years about that. We certainly hope that things will improve there. Senator Murphy also mentioned that finally, after 37 years, Pat Finucane's family has secured an inquiry. I know that is something we have always supported here. The Irish Government has always supported that so I certainly welcome that and wish the Finucane family well.

Senator Crowe said that the granting of planning for the Galway city ring-road is not a silver bullet. When the ring-road is established, it will play a really big part in addressing the huge traffic challenges that are there. Very significant funding has been given by the Government; a figure of €800 million. The point the Senator made about judicial reviews is correct. People have a right to do that. Homeowners who are impacted absolutely have a right to question the process but it is important that we have mediation at this point in time to avoid waiting and waiting. That was effective during the MetroLink process. We will certainly bring that to the attention of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and ask him to look at it.

Senator Ní Chuilinn reminded us that the Oireachtas committee on arts, media and sport was told at its meeting on 28 January last that there is just one athlete support manager - one individual with a very broad remit - who is dealing with up to 250 athletes at any one time.

It is so important that we look after our athletes and support them in whatever way we can with the myriad different issues that can arise. Senator Ní Chuilinn spoke about two different organisations that have now advertised to have athlete board executives, and that is important, as is the need for a sports integrity unit. We support that and will bring that message back to the Minister.

The Senator also spoke about JJ Peters, who, at the incredible age of 13, came 11th out of 80 representing Ireland abroad. That is incredible, so go, JJ. I think that is a name we will see for a very long time in sports.

Senator Keogan spoke about Tickets.ie, which went into liquidation. It is awful to see as regards several major festivals and the smaller gigs as well because they are incredibly important to small venues and to the artistes and the singers who use them. In fact, within a separate Senators' group, we are doing a whole review of small venues around the country to support these types of artists. It is shocking. We need to ask the Government to look at emergency supports, and I agree with that, but it is not fair to blame the Government in any way for what has happened to Tickets.ie. The Senator said that no accounts had been filed since 2022. That is, I agree, an issue, but there are Departments there and the CRO is there and they absolutely should be chasing this. It is unfair to say that it is a fault of the Government. I do think we need to work with those who have been impacted to try to support them and to be able to try to follow the money and chase it and see what we can get back.

Senator Manus Boyle spoke about five young girls aged between 11 and 14. I think three of them were McElhinneys and two were from a Green family. We wish them well as they go to represent Ireland in Canada.

The Senator also spoke about the ongoing shortage of taxis and the grants for accessibility. The new ruling is important. Well, it is not new now, but all taxis have to be accessible. That is a really important standard that we need to support. Certainly, we will look to see if there can be any flexibility around the closing dates in relation to the grants to be able to support the taxi drivers to get those.

Senator Andrews spoke also about what Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about and about the "Prime Time" documentary about cocaine kids. I did not see it myself but I will go back and look at it. In a non-political way and a non-adversarial way, we all really need to work on this. I know that the Taoiseach's Department has a special unit on disability, and that is really important, but the next special unit that will sit in a Taoiseach's office has to be around drugs. It is impacting - I will not say every home but certainly every community, every street, every village and many of our homes.

Well done to Senator Andrews for going out to see My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue, which does incredible work. I know the Senator is passionate about animal welfare and he has spoken often about it. We certainly need to do more and, as he knows, we have asked the Minister to come here several times to discuss this. The Senator has spoken about the incredible volunteers we have, and we have to give a huge shout-out to all those who are involved in My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue, several of whom I have met, and in all our animal rescues, including the wildlife rescue centre. They are incredible people. However, it is not fair to collate the thoroughbred industry with the unfortunate abuse of horses. The Senator has questioned the supports that are going to the horse industry from the Government. The thoroughbred industry is one of the best in the country. It brings billions of euro into the country. We are internationally recognised for it. I have been to the rescue centres but I have also been to our stud farms, as many of us have, and I have been to different areas where horses are bred and looked after and have seen the care and the supports that are given on the stud farms. There are sadly always exceptions but, generally speaking, it is second to none. I just want to draw a division between the two. Definitely, though, the centres should get more funding. I agree with that.

Senator Dee Ryan spoke about the wastewater treatment upgrade at Dunlicky Road, which impacts Limerick and parts of Kilkee, and about the lack of sufficient consultation with those who live in the area. That is an issue. There absolutely should be sufficient consultation. We see that on an ongoing basis there is insufficient consultation. It is not good enough. We certainly will ask the Minister to come in in relation to it. The Senator rightly says Uisce Éireann is doing valuable and important work, but its communications are so bad. I know from trying to deal with it on issues around Kildare myself that it gives the wrong communications or it does not give communications at all. It does not respond to concerns from residents in some areas. It does not respond to issues that public representatives raise. It is not good enough, and that is something I have written to the Minister about because when there are problems with water it causes all sorts of issues in communities. At least if there is a little bit of preparation in relation to it and people have clarity about when they will have water and when they will not have water, people can prepare, but the present system is just not working and it is really wrong.

Senator Boyhan spoke about the growing practice of guillotining legislation. Senator Joe Conway mentioned it too. Both have asked that when there is a Leader - I am only Deputy Leader - we have a meeting between the leaders of the different groups. I am certainly happy to support that request. When legislation comes before the House, it is important that we all have honest debate about it. It is important that everybody, including the Opposition, has the opportunity to put down and to debate amendments. However, when there is filibustering for the sake of it, and that does happen, we need to call it out too. There have been recent situations where we have seen that. To be fair, Ministers have given of their time. There are three particular Ministers who have sat here for debate after debate and given many hours, as they should. It is important that their time is respected as well, but we will certainly look for that meeting.

Senator Boyhan also spoke about the need for a meeting with the new Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, Niall Collins, in relation to allowances, native trees, climate restoration, training and education. We will certainly look for that. We will have a lot of legislation between now and the summer recess, so I genuinely do not know whether we will be able to fit it in, but we will look for it immediately after the summer recess if we do not have it by then.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly also spoke about the situation in Belfast. She is right in saying that we need to talk about the difficult challenges we have and we need to support victims, but we also have to call out blatant racism where we see it.

Senator Martin Conway spoke about the priorities for the EU Presidency, which is starting on 1 July. He talked about the county and country pairings. In his case, it is Clare and Croatia. Kildare is twinned with Austria. I have had the pleasure of meeting the Austrian ambassador three times up to now to discuss our plans. I encourage all of the Senators to contact the ambassadors for the country their county is twinned with. The Irish ambassadors for each country will be coming over as well to do cultural and school activities over a three-day period at the end of September. It is a great opportunity to showcase Ireland and its culture. Senator Conway praised the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, for the work he is doing and the Senator has asked for the Minister of State to come back to give us an update. We will look for that to happen after the summer recess.

Senator Paraic Brady spoke about farmers and the cost of beef going down. It is awful to see this. I have taken many phone calls over the last few days in relation to it. Bord Bia has not been stood down. I know that there is an ongoing issue in relation to the chair of the organisation but it has not been stood down. It is still doing its work and it does an excellent job. The market has shrunk and it is of concern. It shows too that there may be a number of different reasons for that. This came up a little bit in this House a few weeks ago. We all have a duty to talk about the absolute integrity of the Irish beef we have in this country. We all have a duty to not scaremonger in any way. It happened in this House, albeit not by any Member here, two weeks ago. We will look for the Minister for agriculture to come to the House to address the matter. It is very concerning and we need to take it very seriously and to put in any supports we can for the farmers who are impacted.